Google Opens Its First African Cloud Region

Google has announced its cloud region in Johannesburg, South Africa, is operational, the first on the continent.

Africa’s internet economy is estimated to reach $180 billion by 2025, accounting for 5.2% of the continent’s gross domestic product.

Google alone has committed $1 billion to boost Africa’s digital transformation, recognizing that critical drivers of the continent’s growth will include investing in infrastructure, nurturing the growing tech talent pool, and enabling a vibrant startup ecosystem.

Now, a year after the company picked Johannesburg as its first African site, the cloud region is now operational.

South Africa’s Cloud Region

Cloud regions allow users to deploy cloud resources from specific geographic locations or closer to customers.

It also gives them access to several services, including cloud storage, compute engine, and key management systems.

Google stated that businesses of all sizes across the continent now have access to high-performance, secure, and low-latency cloud services.

Google also said the Johannesburg region will provide the resources businesses need to scale, innovate, and compete in the global marketplace.

With the addition of the Johannesburg region, the Google network now totals 40 cloud regions and 121 zones, delivering Google Cloud services to over 200 countries and territories worldwide.

“Like all Google Cloud regions, the Johannesburg region is connected to Google’s secure network, comprising a system of high-capacity fiber optic cables under land and sea around the world,” Google Cloud Africa director Niral Patel said in the statement.

“This includes the recently-completed Equiano subsea cable system that connects Portugal with Togo, Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, and St. Helena.”

Boosting Africa’s digital transformation

According to AlphaBeta Economics research, commissioned by Google Cloud, the South African cloud region is expected to contribute over $2.1 billion to South Africa’s GDP.

It will also support the creation of more than 40,000 jobs by 2030.

“As a company committed to creating financial satisfaction in emerging markets, we’ve seen incredible scale and impact owing to Google Cloud’s infrastructure,” said Felix Ike, Moniepoint’s Chief Technology Officer.

“The new cloud region brings our services closer to millions of people who need it, setting the pace for much bigger digital transformation across Africa.”

Google competitors Amazon and Microsoft both launched cloud regions on the continent a few years ago.